Does University of Manitoba give transfer credit for IB Physics HL?
Winnipeg, MB
Yes, Transfer Credit Available!
Minimum Grade Required
Credit Granted
PHYS 1020: General Physics 1 (3) & PHYS 1030: General Physics 2 (3)
💡Expert's Take
A score of 4 on IB Physics HL earns 6 credit hours at UM as the named pair PHYS 1020 and PHYS 1030 (the General Physics sequence, described in the catalog as using "little math and no calculus"). SL Physics is not on UM's chart and earns no credit.
Per UM's Senate-approved Transference of External Grades Policy, the Official Transcript shows transfer credit only as source and hours, while the converted letter grade (4 = B, 5 = B+, 6 = A, 7 = A+) is "attached to the individual student record and maintained in the University of Manitoba SIS." Competitive faculties such as Medicine and Pharmacy can pull that stored grade into their program-specific AGPA when the applicant also releases the official IB transcript to UM in support of the application: see the Medicine Bulletin and the Pharmacy Bulletin.
What to watch for:
- PHYS 1020 is "May not be held with" PHYS 1050, PHYS 1051, PHYS 1018, the former PHYS 1410, or the former PHYS 1420. Claiming this credit therefore blocks the calculus-based PHYS 1050 / 1051 starting course, but it does not block PHYS 1070, which lists "PHYS 1020 (B)" as an entry route alongside PHYS 1050/1051 (plus calculus).
- The Physics and Astronomy Major explicitly supports the General Physics route: entrance is "PHYS 1050 (C+) or PHYS 1020 (B)," and Year 1 lists "PHYS 1070 (C+) or PHYS 1030 (B)." The Physics Honours entrance, by contrast, is keyed to a "B" in PHYS 1070 or a "B+" in PHYS 1030, so an IB HL 4 does not establish Honours eligibility.
- Downstream prerequisites are not single-track: PHYS 2152 (Engineering's Modern Physics) accepts "(PHYS 1050 or PHYS 1051) or (a 'B' or better in PHYS 1020 or PHYS 1021)"; PHYS 2270 (Life Sciences) accepts "(PHYS 1050 or PHYS 1051) or (a 'C+' or better in PHYS 1020 or PHYS 1021) or permission of the department." An IB 4 = B clears the 2270 threshold and meets the 2152 threshold exactly.
Credit at UM is opt-in: the Request for University Credit for Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Results form states that "Only credit specifically requested below will be awarded." Students who want all other AP/IB credits but prefer to keep PHYS 1050 open should still submit the form and simply omit Physics from the list, rather than skipping the form entirely. Note that omitting Physics from this form is a credit-hours decision only; it does not, on its own, prevent Medicine or Pharmacy from including the IB grade in their AGPA if the official IB transcript is released to UM for those applications.
Official award line (IB Physics HL):
Minimum score: 4
Credit granted: PHYS 1020: General Physics 1 (3) & PHYS 1030: General Physics 2 (3)
Total: 6 credit hours
IB to UM grade conversion stored in SIS: 4 = B, 5 = B+, 6 = A, 7 = A+
SL: no credit.
University of Manitoba: AP and IB Courses Approved for Credit (official PDF)
Need help preparing for IB Physics HL?
Your Potential Savings
Credits Earned
6
Tuition per Credit*
~$180
Est. Savings*
~$1,080
*Tuition rates are approximate and may vary by academic year, faculty, and program. Always verify with University of Manitoba's official sources before making decisions.
📊 Compare Physics HL at Other Universities
See how Physics HL transfer credits compare across Canadian universities. Click column headers to sort.
| University | Min Grade | Credit Granted | Est. Savings | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McGill UniversityMontreal, QC | 5/7 | PHYS 101 + PHYS 102 (8 credits) | $3,360 | → | |
| Dalhousie UniversityHalifax, NS | 5/7 | Physics 1280.03 + Physics 1290.03 = 6 credit hours | $2,052 | → | |
| Concordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec | 4/7 | 9 transfer credits toward the 120-credit Extended … | $1,620 | → | |
| University of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SK | 5/7 | PHYS 115.3 + PHYS 117.3 = 6 credit units | $1,554 | → | |
| York UniversityToronto, ON | 5/7 | SC/PHYS 1411 3.0 + SC/PHYS 1412 3.0 (6 credits) | $1,458 | → | |
| University of WindsorWindsor, ON | 5/7 | PHYS-1300 + PHYS-1310 (Introductory Physics for Li… | $1,440 | → | |
| Western UniversityLondon, ON | 5/7 | Physics 1501A (0.5 cr) + Physics 1502B (0.5 cr) = … | $1,440 | → | |
| Queen's UniversityKingston, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 117 (6.0 units) | $1,398 | → | |
| Simon Fraser UniversityBurnaby, BC | 4/7 | SFU PHYS 101 (3), Q/B-Sci; SFU PHYS 102 (3), Q/B-S… | $1,398 | → | |
| Carleton UniversityOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 1107 (0.5) & PHYS 1108 (0.5) | $1,365 | → | |
| Memorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John's, NL | 4/7 | Physics 1020 + Physics 1021 | $1,350 | → | |
| University of OttawaOttawa, ON | 5/7 | PHY 1121 + PHY 1122 (6 units) | $1,320 | → | |
| University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB | 6/7 | PHYS 124 + PHYS 126 (6 units) | $1,302 | → | |
| University of British ColumbiaVancouver, BC | 6/7 | PHYS_V 100 (3) + PHYS_V 1st-year level (3) | $1,242 | → | |
| McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON | 5/7 | Physics 1A03 and 1AA3 | $1,200 | → | |
| University of CalgaryCalgary, Alberta | 5/7 | Physics 221 (3 units) and Physics 223 (3 units) | $1,194 | → | |
| University of New BrunswickFredericton & Saint John, NB | 6/7 | Fredericton: 1000-level Physics (6ch) Saint John: … | $1,080 | → | |
| University of GuelphGuelph, ON | 5/7 | PHYS 9110 (0.50 credits) | $720 | → | |
| University of TorontoToronto, ON | 5/7 | PHY131H1+PHY132H1 (1.0 cr, A&S) · PHY136H5+PHY137H… | $659 | → | |
| University of VictoriaVictoria, BC | 6/7 | PHYS 102A (1.5 units) and PHYS 102B (1.5 units) | $555 | → | |
| Toronto Metropolitan UniversityToronto, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → | |
| University of WaterlooWaterloo, ON | N/A | No transfer credit | — | → |
Tip: Different provinces have different tuition rates. Use these comparisons to find the best value for your residency status.
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Data Disclaimer
This information is compiled from University of Manitoba official sources and verified community reports. It is NOT a substitute for official academic advising. Always confirm with your advisor before making decisions.
Last updated: May 2026
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